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How well run are Scunthorpe?

Are Scunthorpe one of the better run clubs in the Football League as their chairman recently claimed? Kieran Maguire of the PriceofFootball considers the evidence in depth, although he avoids a definitive answer: The light pours out of me

He concludes, 'Scunthorpe have [lived] beyond their means under Peter Swann since he acquired the club. There is nothing wrong with this, but it does increase risk if for whatever reason he can’t (Stewart Day at Bury, Tony Xia at Villa) or won’t (Steve Day at Bury, Ken Anderson at Bolton, Ellis Short at Sunderland) underwrite the losses.'

'Peter Swann has been generous to the club and should be given credit for that, but unlike many other owners who have lent their clubs money interest free (Coates family at Stoke, Matthew Benham at Brentford, Tony Bloom at Brighton, Dean Hoyle at Huddersfield etc.) has charged interest. The transfer of tax losses makes sense but also leaves a slightly uneasy taste in the mouth as to what is driving the investment.'

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